Jackson, a legend in the music world, died Thursday of an apparent heart attack.

"The King of Pop, the King of Music," Lewis said. "If you don't listen to Michael Jackson, you don't know music. It was a sad day yesterday. When I heard the news yesterday, I almost shed a tear. It was hard.

"But at least you still have the music to listen to. When I die, you can't just go back and watch me play."

Jackson's death sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, but several prominent sports figures also expressed their shock.

Not long after news of Jackson's death befgan to circulate, Lewis used his Twitter account to weigh in.

"I can't believe the king of pop is gone. I was waiting to see him back with the Jackson 5. The tour was coming up. RIP Michael Jackson," he wrote.